Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-02-11

sault with intent to cimmit rape. Counsel
for the defendant demanded that the roll be
called, and each of the twelve jurors in an
swer TO his name affirmed the decision.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The position that the SENTINEL has oc
cupied with reference To the civil service re
fern law is we'll known to its readers. II
condemned in language as strong as it could
command the whole measure in numerous
and lengthy articles. 1t went further. L
denounced, time and again, ex. Senator Pen.
dleton for the introduction and advocacy OF
measure without precedent in any admin
istration under the government, certainly a,
war with the teachings and policy of the
fathers of Democracy, and predicted his
utter reputation and political degradation
by the Democrats Of his State, and it has
all along condemned President CLEVELAND
for making it his political guide and god in
the shaping and conduct of his administra.
ton.
Following strict and literal iRterpreta-
ton OF the law, it took the ground, among
other things, that the administration coul Id
not be success in any of its relations and
bearings, because essential reforms, so much
needed and 50 openly promised the people
could not be brought into active and HEALTHY
operation so long as any bureau and room
Of any branch of the general government
was crowded with political conspirators and
educated spies That it would retain in
Office swarms Of officials who were saturated
with fraud and who were only held in po-
sition to hide and conceal the most out
rageous wrongs.
That 1t was conceived in the interest Of
the college bred dude, and aimed as blow
at the bone and muscle of the party--that
veteran, SCARED Democrats, who had barred
their bosoms to the fury and madness OF
countless storms, were TO be denied any and
all right TO share in the distribution Of fed
eral patronage-the mere slaves of favored
class because they could not undergo form
ula as unnecessary as it is unjust.
1t held on to the old Democratic doctrine
that ITO the victors belong the spois." That
the control Of the government had, by the
voice of the people, been transferred to the
keeping and the management Of the Demo
cratic party, and that as legitimate result
the Democracy were to be held responsible
and that therefore none but Democrats
shsuld 60 on duty. This was the doctrine
held by the Democratic party in the purest
and best days that this government has ever
experienced, and such as the government
has never realized before or since.
How far the SENTINEL was right in its
feeble efforts in denOuncing this gross out.
rage is best evidenced by the laundering
denunciations now heard from Democratic
standpoints and through Democratic chan :
nels throughout the length and breadth OF
the land. 1t was only last week in the
United States Senate that Senators Beck
and Salisbury hurled red-hot complaint
against Its baneful influence and workings
as to the reforms needed and desired in the
further conduct Of national affairs. 1t il
also known that other Democratic Senators
no less prominent, entertain and have ex
pressed similar views, though, as yet, they
have not ventilated the same on the floor OF
the Senate chamber.
Mere significant than this, and with q
Significance that reaches and points 10
period not far ahead was the vote taken in th,
New York Assembly en- Thursday OF las
week TO repeal the present State civil ser
vice law, when thirty out Of thirty three
Democrats voted against system "devotee
TO which is the principle characteristic ol
President CIeveland's administration rni,
this vote would indicate decided opp,si
ton to the civil service law as so strenaous Y
adhered to and carried out by Mr.. C,eve.
land Is apparent TO every one-that 1t further
indicates that the Democratic administrative
in the State, that secured him his nonina
ton, is on a rapid decline 50 far as his 10
nomination is concerned, is equally plain
In conclusion We will only Id that IL
Il
us, this is critical period with Mr.. Cieve
land. A change in policy, postponed lit
tie longer, will come too late. Certainly he
does not desire 10 be remembered in the po.
iiticai history Of the United States US the
President whose administration was fatally
weak because it was not selidly based upon
the confidence of the party. lie can hardly
wish that his four years Of power should b,
only be mild continuation aud interregnun
between Republican administrations--tha
the Democracy should be made weaker and
not stronger on account of his administra
ton, and yet the policy he is pursuing with
reference to civil service is fast leading in
that direction.